Princess Diana & Prince Charles’ Relationship Timeline From The Fairytale Beginning

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August 17, 2022 11:09PM EDT

We’re remembering Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana on what would have been their 40th wedding anniversary.

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Prince Charles & Princess Diana’s Historic Romance

Prince Charles & Princess Diana’s Historic Romance — On July 29, 1981 750 million people around the world tuned in to watch Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, marry Lady Diana Spencer. The historic wedding ceremony took place at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The bride, who was barely out of her teens, wore an elaborate ivory dress designed by husband and wife team David and Elizabeth Emanuel.
Within a year Diana, Princess of Wales would give birth to her first son, Prince William, who was born on June 21, 1982. Their second child, Prince Harry, arrived on September 15, 1984.
Sadly the couple’s marriage was not a happy one. The Wales’ relationship was marred by infidelity on both sides. In particular, Prince Charles’ romance with his current wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, drew widespread criticism.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana separated in 1992 and officially divorced in August 1996. Barely a year later, the Princess of Wales died in a car crash in Paris, France. She was just 36.

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Lady Diana Spencer

Lady Diana Spencer — Lady Diana Spencer was just 19 when she burst on to the world stage as Britain’s potential future queen. The shy nursery school assistant was part of England’s aristocratic Spencer family. Other notable members include former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.

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Prince Charles & Lady Diana Spencer In Scotland

Prince Charles & Lady Diana Spencer In Scotland — Prince Charles and his then fiancee Lady Diana Spencer pose for photographers in May 1981, a couple of months before their wedding. There was a considerable age gap between the future Prince and Princess of Wales. He was 32 and she was just 19 when they got engaged in February 1981 after mere months of dating.

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Lady Diana & Prince Charles Pose For Their Engagement Photos

Lady Diana & Prince Charles Pose For Their Engagement Photos — Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer announced their engagement in February 1981. They posed for photos and spoke to the press about their romance at Buckingham Palace. Prince Charles gave his future bride a stunning sapphire engagement ring, which now belongs to their daughter-in-law, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.

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Charles & Diana Meet Hollywood Royalty, Princess Grace

Charles & Diana Meet Hollywood Royalty, Princess Grace — Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles are snapped speaking to Hollywood movie star, Grace Kelly in 1981 shortly before their July wedding. By then, the American was Princess Grace of Monaco, having given up her acting career to marry Prince Rainier in 1956.

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The Prince & Princess of Wales At St. Paul’s Cathedral

The Prince & Princess of Wales At St. Paul’s Cathedral — Newly married, the Prince and Princess of Wales were pictured leaving St. Paul’s Cathedral on July 29, 1981. At the bottom of the stairs a royal horse-drawn carriage waited to take them through the crowded London streets of spectators and well wishers.

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Charles & Diana, The Newlyweds

Charles & Diana, The Newlyweds — Princess Diana leans on Prince Charles’ shoulder as they pose for the press in August 1981 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The newlyweds were still honeymooning. When asked by a waiting reporter how she’s enjoying married life, the princess said, ‘I highly recommend it.’

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Princess Diana & Prince Charles With Their Son Prince William

Princess Diana & Prince Charles With Their Son Prince William — Prince Charles and Princess Diana pose outside St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London in June 1982. The young mom was all smiles as she craddled her newborn son, William.

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Princess Diana & Prince Charles Take William To New Zealand

Princess Diana & Prince Charles Take William To New Zealand — Princess Diana and Prince Charles took their son William on his first royal tour abroad in April 1983. The young parents posed for the press during a stop in Auckland, New Zealand.

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Prince Charles & Princess Diana In Australia

Prince Charles & Princess Diana In Australia — Princess Diana and Prince Charles looked like the ultimate tourists as they posed for photos at Ayers Rock in Australia. Years later a dramatized verison of the trip, which took place in April 1983, was featured in a Season 4 episode of the Netflix series, ‘The Crown.’

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Prince Charles & Princess Diana With Baby Harry

Prince Charles & Princess Diana With Baby Harry — More than two years after the birth of their first child, William, the Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed their second son, Henry (aka Prince Harry), into the world in September 1984. The couple posed for photos outside St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington just as they had before.

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The Prince & Princess Of Wales Meet The Bushes

The Prince & Princess Of Wales Meet The Bushes — In 1985 Prince Charles and Princess Diana rubbed shoulders with the then U.S. vice president and his wife, George and Barbara Bush. This photo was taken at a reception at the British Embassy in Washington D.C.

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Prince Charles & Princess Diana Kiss

Prince Charles & Princess Diana Kiss — Princess Diana rewards her husband Prince Charles with a kiss after a polo match. The future king was a keen player of a sport that their sons William and Harry also enjoy.

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Princess Diana & Prince Charles In America

Princess Diana & Prince Charles In America — The royal couple looked glamorous as they left a dinner at the National Gallery of Art, which was held in their honor in Washington. The princess stunned in a one-shoulder white dress that was the epitome of ’80s fashion.

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The Royals At Cannes

The Royals At Cannes — Princess Diana wowed in a sleeveless baby blue gown as she and her husband Prince Charles attended a film premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in France in May 1987. What a moment!

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Prince William’s First Day At Eton

Prince William’s First Day At Eton — Princes William and Harry giggle for the press as they pose with their parents outside of Eton in 1995. The photo was taken on William’s first day at the posh school.

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Charles & Diana At Prince William’s Confirmation

Charles & Diana At Prince William’s Confirmation — By now divorced, Charles and Diana put on a united front as they attended Prince William’s confirmation at Windsor Castle in 1997. The Princess of Wales looked stunning in a powder blue suit.

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Princes Charles, Harry & William Mourn Princess Diana

Princes Charles, Harry & William Mourn Princess Diana — Prince Charles was on hand to support his sons, William and Harry in September 1997 as they read the wall of tributes fans left for their mom, Diana, days after her tragic death. Devastated royal watchers descended on the princess’s London home, Kensington Palace. Prince William now lives there with his wife Kate Middleton and their three children George, Charlotte and Louis.

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